Rake



Sept. 9, 1941. F. D. JONES ETAL 2,255,288

RAKE

Filed Jan. 16, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 25' 24 24 I9 9 '92 I8 INVENTOR.

7 FRANK D. JONES. 8 23 22 MARCUS E. MC CLELLAN.

ATTORNEYS Sept. 9, 1941. F. D. JONES ETAL RAKE Filed Jan. 16, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet 2 MARCUS E. N0 CLELLAN.

8 m m J D K m R F ATTORNEYS I Patented Seph9, 1941 RAKE rank D. Jonesand Marcus E'. McClellan, mm wa, Iowa, asslgnors to Dain ManufacturingCompany oflowa, Ottumwa, Iowa, a corporation of Iowa Application January16, 1939, Serial No. 251,170

Claims.

The present invention relates to side delivery rakes and is moreparticularly concerned with a rake of the type adapted to be supportedin part on a propelling tractor and having a rotary rake reel drivenfrom the tractor power take-oil shaft.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved side delivery rake that is adapted to operate satisfactorilyunder widely varying field conditions and is particularly suited todimcult and irregular terrain.

In the accomplishment of this object we have provided a floating supportfor the rake reel whereby the latter is enabled to yield upwardly if therake teeth strike the ground, and thereby avoid damage to the raketeeth, reel shaft, or implement frame.

More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide aside delivery rake having a rotary rake reel carried by a springsuspension device on the supporting frame, and driving means on the reelshaft operatively connected with the power take-oil shaft of thepropelling tractor for rotating the rake reel.

Another object is to provide an over-running clutch in the drivingmechanism between the tractor power take-off shaft and the reel shaftwhereby the latter is allowed to over-run the power take-off shaft ifthe engine is suddenly throttled down and thus prevent damage to thedriving mechanism from the momentum forc of the reel. Still anotherobject is to provide an improved self-equalizing lifting device forraising the rear end of the rake frame on the usual two caster wheels sothat each of the two caster wheels bears an equal portion of the weightof the implement at all times.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent after a consideration of the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment thereof, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of a tractormounted side delivery rake embodying the principles of our invention;-

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same machine, the near tractordriving wheel being removed to show certain details of the inventionmore clearly;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view showing the spring suspension of thefront or inner end of the reel on the supporting frame, and the drivingunit on the reel shaft; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along a line 4-4 in Figure l andshowing the gears and overrunning clutch.

Referring now to the drawings, the reference numeral 8 indicates atractor having a body I which is supported on rear driving wheels I.Mounted on the tractor body is a draft frame 9 comprising a pair oflaterally spaced members II which are bolted to mounting bosses II onthe tractor rear axle housing l2 and extend rearwardly therefrom. Therear ends of the members l0 are rigidly connected by a cross member l3,and the draft frame is braced by members H which are fixed to thetractor drawbar l5 and extend rearwardly and upwardly therefrom indiverging relation and are fixed to the cross member If.

A diagonally disposed reel frame I8 is pivotally supported at its frontend on the draft frame 9 and is carried at its rear end on a pair oflaterally spaced rear caster wheels 20 and 2|. The caster wheels 20, 2|are each iournaled on the lower end of a vertical standard 22 that isslidably engaged in a bearing member carried by a bracket 23 secured toand projecting rearwardly from the frame It. The rear end of the reelframe It may be raised or lowered relative to the caster wheels 20,2l"'for adjusting the rake to the proper height above the ground, andthis is accomplished through an adjusting device 30 and suitableequalizing connecting means. Preferably, the adjusting device 30 ismounted on the long truss bar 29 extending forwardly from the casterwheel 20, and consists of a nut 31 and screw member 39 in threadedengagement therewith. The nut 31 is held against rotation by a suitablebracket member 38 on the truss bar 29, while thescrew member 39 isrotatably supported in a bearing bracket 28 and is operatively connectedby a universal joint 32 to a hand crank 3| disposed within convenientreach of the operator at his station on the tractor. The shaft of thecrank 3| is iournaled within a bearing sleeve 33 through which it isalso slidable longitudinally and the latter is swlveled on a supportingangle iron 34 which is fixed to the draft l'rame cross member IS. Achain 26 is connected at one end to the nut 31 and at the other end to alink 25 having a bifurcated yoke portion 25' in which an equalizingsheave wheel I! is journaled. A chain 24 is suitably fastened to theupper ends of the standards 22 and is trained over rollers II and I8, aswell as over the equalizing sheave wheel I! so that the pull exerted bythe adjusting device 38 is transmitted equally to both standends 22,forcing the latter downwardly and thereby raising the frame l5.

In the construction shown, the reel frame I5 is connected to the draftframe 8 by means of a bent supplemental frame member 35 that is rigidlyconnected with and forms an extension of the main frame I5. Thesupplemental frame member 85 is pivotally connected to the ends of thedraft frame members ID for vertical swinging by a pair of spaced hinges85, and when the reel frame I5 is adjusted vertically with reference tothe caster wheels 28, 2|, the frame rocks about the axis of the hinges.

Rotatably mounted in the reel frame I5 is the reel comprising an inneror forward head 48 and an outer or rearward head 4| which are connectedtogether by a plurality of bars 42, preferably three as shown, thatcarry rake teeth 48.

The heads 48 and 4| are secured upon a central shaft 44, and it is bythe rotation of this shaft that the reel as a whole is driven. The powerfor driving the reel is derived from the power takeoff shaft 45 whichprojects rearwardly from the tractor body I and is transmitted by thefollowing mechanism. A universal joint connection 45 is adapted to befixedly secured to the power take-off shaft 45 and drives a shaft 58which extends laterally rearwardly in the direction of the inner reelhead 48. At its rear end, the shaft 58 is connected by a telescopicjoint 5| and universal joint 52 with a second drive shaft 53 which isrotatably supported at its front end in a swiveled bearing sleeve 54,and is also slidable longitudinally therein. The bearing sleeve 54 isprovided with horizontal trunnions 55 which are journaled in twoV-shaped supporting hangers 55 attached to and extending between thesupplemental frame member 35 and the reel frame IS. The rear end of theshaft 53 enters a gear case 50 and is rotatably supported therein bysuitable bearing means. The gear case 50 is rotatably supported on thecentral shaft 44 adjacent the inner head 40, and the shaft 58 isoperatively connected with the shaft 44 by suitable gear driving means,preferably in the form of a worm 51 fixed on the end of the shaft 58 andmeshed with a worm gear 58 on the shaft 44 and connected to drive thelatter through an overrunning clutch mechanism 41, the purpose of whichis to prevent suddent strains being applied to the reel when the powertake-off shaft 45 is declutched or the engine throttled down. It willthus be seen that the shaft 44 is rotated by power derived from thetractor power take-off shaft 45 through the driving mechanism justdescribed. An angle iron torsional member 51 is fixedly secured to andextends between the under side of the gear case 58 and the bearingsleeve 54 to hold the gear case in flxed relation to the pivot 55 and toresist the tendency of the gear case to rotate counter to the reel shaft44, thereby relieving the drive shaft 53 of any bending stresses.

The rake reel is supported on the reel frame l5 by a verticallyadjustable spring suspension device of the type shown and described inLetters Patent No. 1,914,036, granted to H. Moschel on June 13, 1933,and reference may be had to this patent for details of construction andoperation. Briefly, the forward end of the central shaft 44 of the reelis journaled in a bearing block 5| (see Figure 3) provided withvertically extending grooves on opposite sides for receiving the sidemembers of a U-shaped supporting member 52 depending downwardly from thetransverse cross bar a of the reel frame I5 to which it is rigidlysecured in any suitable manner, the support thus forming a guide forsaid bearing block in. its vertical movement as hereinafter described.Both side members of the supporting guide 52 and the cooperatingvertical grooves in the bearing block 5| are made arcuate about thepivot 55 so that the distance between the axes of the reel shaft 44 andthe trunnions 55 is maintained constant for any position of the block 5|in the guide 52, allowing the gear case 58 and torsional member 51 toswing freely about the pivot 55. A bell crank is pivotally mounted at 58on the bar |5a of the frame and comprises a laterally extending arm 54and a vertically extending arm 65, said lateral aim being bifurcated atits outer end to receive a sleeve 55 therebetween. The sleeve 55 hashorizontal trunnions 10 that are journaled in the arm 54, and slidablyembraces a rod II that extends through a slot 58 in the horizontalflange of the frame bar |5a and is pivotally connected at its lower endby a pin I2 to a lug 58 provided on the bearing block 5|. The bearingblock 5| is supported on the arm 54 by a compression spring 13 whichencircles the rod 1|, the latter having a nut 14 carried on the spring,which bears downwardly against the top of the sleeve 55.

The vertical arm 55 of the bell crank is pivotally connected by a pin 15to a yoke 15 and the latter is provided with spaced side members adaptedto receive between them a nut 88 and to hold the said nut againstrotation. An adjusta ing member 8| is rotatably supported in a verticalmember 82 that is fixed to the frame cross member l5a, and the end ofthe adjusting member 8| passes through an aperture in the end of theyoke 15 and is threaded, as at 83, so as to engage the nut 88. Theadjusting member 8| is connected by a universal joint 84 with a handcrank 85 which extends forwardly to within convenient reach of theoperator, and the crank is rotatably supported and slidable within abearing sleeve 85 swiveled on the post 34. This adjusting mechanism isprovided for the forward end portion of the reel for the purpose ofleveling the reel.

The rear end of the shaft 44 is similarly yieldingly suspended from theinclined transverse frame member |5b at the rear end of the frame l5,and is journaled in a bearing block 88. The latter is provided withvertically extending grooves on opposite sides for receiving the sidemmbers of a U-shaped supporting member 8| suitably secured at its upperend to the frame member I522. The bearing block 88 is supported on acompression spring 82 which bears downwardly against the frame memberI51; and reacts upwardly against a nut 88 threaded on the upper end of arod 84, the lower end of said rod being pivotally connected at 85 to thebearing block 88.

The reel is leveled by raising or lowering either end thereof relativeto the frame l5, and this is accomplished by proper adjustment of themember 8| through the hand crank 85, or by turning the nut 83 up or downon the threaded end of the rod 84. By turning the crank 85, the lateralarm 54 of the bell crank may be swung upwardly, raising the bearingblock 5| on the compressed spring 18, and with it, the forward end ofthe reel shaft 44. Likewise, the rear end of the reel may be raised onthe spring 82 by turning the nut 88 down on the rod 84 to compress thespring aasass's suillciently to carry the weight of the reel journaledin the bearing block II.

In the drawings I have illustrated the relative positions of the partswhen the central shaft ll of the reel is in its normal or lowermostposition with the bearing blocks 6i and ll resting on the lower ends oftheir U-shaped supporting members 82 and II and the springs by which.these blocks are suspended are compressed. when traveling over levelground the parts will remain approximately in the position shown, but

'if the tractor wheels or the rear caster wheels fl, 2| should drop intoa sudden depression and the rake teeth should strike the ground, thereel would be permitted to rise relative to the reel frame by the upwardsliding of the bearing blocks in their respective guides, aided somewhatby the stressed springs I8 and O2, and the wheels would remain incontact with the ground, supporting the considerably greater weight ofthe frame and thereby minimizing the possibility of damaging the rakereel or teeth.

It will be seen that as the front end of the reel rises and falls in themanner just described, the drive shaft 53 will pivot about the bearingsleeve trunnions II, and the slight amount of longitudinal movement ofthe shaft I! through the sleeve '4 will be accommodated by thetelescopic joint ii. Also, the shaft I! and bearing sleeve if act tohold the gear case against rotation about the shaft ll at all times,since the reaction of the gear case is in a counter-clockwise directionis viewed in Figure 3.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a rake of the class described, the combination of a. wheelsupported frame, a rotatable rake reel having a central shaft, meansyieldingly suspending said shaft from said frame for vertical movementrelative thereto, and means for rotating said reel comprising a driveshaft having operating connection with said central shaft, a bearingmember pivotally connected with said frame for swinging about asubstantially horizontal axis, said drive shaft being rotatablysupported in said bearing member, and means movable vertically with saidcentral shaft for maintaining the drive shaft and central shaft inoperating relation with one another.

2. In combination with a tractor having a body and a power take-on shaftprojecting outwardly therefrom, a side delivery rake comprising a framesupported at least in part on said tractor body, a rotary rake reel,vertically yieldable means suspending said rake reel from said frame,power transmission means operatively connected with said rake reel andmovable. vertically therewith, and flexible driving means connectingsaid power take-off shaft with said power transmission means.

3. In combination with a tractor having a body and a power take-offshaft projecting outwardly therefrom, a side delivery rake comprising adraft frame rigidly mounted on said tractor body, a main frame pivotallyconnected with said draft frame for vertical swinging, a rotary rakereel mounted on a central shaft, means yieldingly suspending said shaftfrom said main frame, and means for rotating said rake reel comprising adrive shaft, a bearing mounted on said -main frame for swinging about ahorizontal axis and adapted for rotatably supporting said drive shaft,means for holding said drive shaft in fixed relation with said centralshaft. driving connection and means operatively connecting said driveshaft with said power take-oil. shaft at'a point adjacent said bearing.

'4. A tractor operated side delivery rake comprising a frame, draftmeans connecting the frame with the tractor, a reel shaft supported onsaid frame for vertical movement relative thereto, a rake reel fixed tosaid shaft'and driven thereby, a housing iournaled on said shaft andmovable vertically therewith, a drive shaft rotatably supported in saidhousing, driving connection between said drive shaft and said reelshaft, means on said frame for rotatably supporting said drive shaft andproviding for angular movement of the latter lative to said. frame toaccommodate said veical movement of said reel shaft relative to saidframe, and driving connecigziign between said drive shaft and thetractor en- 5. A tractor mounted side delivery rake comprising incombination, a rake frame supported at least in part on the tractor, areel shaft supported on said frame for vertical movement relativethereto, a rake reel flxed to said shaft and driven thereby, a bearingsupport member journaled on said shaft and movable vertically therewith,a drive shaft journaled on said bearing support member, drivingconnection between said drive shaft and said reel shaft, bearing meanspivotally connected with said frame for supporting said drive shaft andproviding for angular movement of the latter relative to said frame toaccommodate said vertical movement of said reel shaft relative to saidframe, and driving connection between said drive shaft and the tractorengine, including a flexible Joint serially connected with the driveshaft in the proximity of said bearing means.

6. An implement comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of groundwheels, support means connecting each of said wheels to said frame forindependent vertical movement, a sheave wheel, means for moving saidsheave wheel'relative to said frame in a directionperpendicular to theaxis of the wheel, and flexible means connected to each of said wheelsupport means and trained over said sheave wheel whereby.movement of thelatter in one direction causes an equal force to be exerted on each ofsaid wheel support means to raise said frame relative to the wheels.

7. An implement comprising, in combination, a frame, a pair of groundwheels disposed at the r rear end thereof, supporting standards,iournaled on said wheels, means connecting said standards to said framefor independent vertical movement relative thereto, a sheave wheelmovable in a fore and aft direction with respect to the frame, adjustingmeans on said frame for moving said sheave wheel, and a flexible tensionmember connected at opposite ends thereof to both of said wheel supportmeans, said tension member being trained over said sheave wheel in amanner whereby forward movement of the latter under the influence ofsaid adjusting means causes equal force to be applied downwardly on eachof said wheel support means to raise said frame relative to the wheels.

8. In an agricultural implement, the combination of a frame, a pair ofground wheels connected with said frame for independent relativevertical movement, a control member mounted on said frame and movablewith respect thereto,

between said drive shaft and said central shaft, and equalizing meansinterconnecting said control member with said ground wheels andoperative when a force is applied to said control member to distributethe force equally to each of said wheels independent of the position ofone wheel relative to the other for moving the wheels vertically withrespect to the frame.

9. A side delivery rake comprising, in combination, a main frame, a rakereel supported thereon for relative vertical movement. a bearing supportmember journaled on the reel, a bearing pivoted on said main frame forvertical swinging movement, a rotatable drive shaft journaled in saidbearing and operatively connected with the reel shaft adjacent saidbearing support member, and a radius arm fixed to the bearing and to thebearing support member to relieve the drive shaft of bending stressesresulting from the torque of the rake reel.

assumes 10. In combination with a tractor having a power take-oi! shaft,a side delivery rake comprising a frame connected with the tractor, a

rotary rake reel having a central shaft, one end of said reel shaftbeing swingable vertically in an are about an axis spaced radially fromthe shaft, a drive shaft disposed substantially perpendicular to saidreel shaft and intersecting the axis of swinging movement of said oneend of the reel, a worm fixed to the drive shaft, a gear meshed withsaid worm and having driving connection with the reel shaft, and meansconnecting said drive shaft with said power take-off shaft including aflexible Jointdisposed closely adjacent said intersection of the driveshaft with the axis of movement of the reel shaft.

FRANK D. JONES.

MARCUS E. McCLmLAN.

